a2jean

Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 5:45 p.m.

His final tweets were: "I promise the Michigan family and fans I will make you proud again. Tate Forcier #5 - A Michigan Man Forever - Go Blue." That doesn't sound like someone who wants to leave U-M. He seems very conflicted. Rather than treating these rambles as some red-hot scoop, I wish Mr. Rothstein and the rest of the press would give Tate room to breathe and get himself together. He is probably under more pressure than many of us can imagine. Tate -- hang in there! You're a joy to watch and look great in maize and blue. Redemption is sweet -- work your keester off, get some tutoring and guidance, and good things will come to you. Be strong, #5!

Elaine F. Owsley

Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 2:09 p.m.

I suppose that Montana has academic requirements for their athletes just like Michigan. Perhaps he should consider summer school.

Tru2Blu76

Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 6:04 a.m.

I would never kick anyone who's down. I won't kick Tate Forcier and appreciate what it means to be struggling while critics snipe away. That he still has positive things to say about his time at Michigan speaks volumes about his character and about Michigan's place in all of our hearts. Farewell, Tate Forcier, may you again have days of happiness and success. Best wishes to your fine family as well.

Terrin

Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 4:22 a.m.

I find it sad Michigan didn't give him another shot. The guy reached out in the end and made it clear he was having trouble academically. If Michigan football is a family, you don't kick a family member when he or she is down. Further, part of Tate's problems may have been because of a lack of proper guidance under RR. He might have done better under Hoke. Carr never would have ridiculed a player publicly. If Tate could get his grades up, he should have been given another chance.

Jaxon5

Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 2:34 a.m.

Tate Forcier provided some great moments for Michigan during his short time here. I wish he could have worked things out. It's better to learn from one's mistakes while still young and there is time to move on and still make something of oneself. I wish all the best to Tate Forcier.

Keith

Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 12:10 a.m.

Brings the term student athelete to the correct meaning. If you are going to be the QB at the UofM you have to make the grade. Its disappointing that he could not get it together in time. I do not believe that the UofM gave up on you that is selflessness, and not taking accountability of your actions. Kid you have potential, wish you the best of luck, take care of your grades. GO BLUE..."We Support You" the spirit lives in you.

heartbreakM

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 11:42 p.m.

Whatever he did to get kicked off is on Tate, and not on the team, as he is trying to make it sound. I personally am sorry whenever a player leaves the team, but part of maturing is recognizing when it is your own fault. I do criticize former coach for "taking away the wings" as a petulant and nasty punishment (make him do extra laps), and I think Woolfolk was out of line to single him out. Usually in college, one teammate does not negatively call out another. It's an "amateur sport" still, and Woolfolk in trying to be a team leader really pushed the limits there. But mostly, I think Tate was not ready for big time college academics out of home schooled high school nor the pressure of big time athletics. Surprising given his older brothers, but I wish him well. He did give us a few great moments. Just wish he wouldn't have tweeted his way out.

txrosegirl

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 10:52 p.m.

i think it is sad he is leaving. sure, he may have needed to grow up and mature a bit but geez, i remember being his age not too long ago and you do not always do the right thing. i do think people are forgetting he is likely still a teenager (19 or so i assume, maybe 20 at the oldest) and may not always handle himself as maturely as he could. i wish tate the best of luck wherever he goes next. but i also he would not give up (at UM). i wish that he would take this opportunity, get his grades up and get back on the team. either way, thanks for the exciting year in 2009 tate!

YuckyPizza

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.

Remember during tates freshmen year when he got hurt and the trainers and coaches kept sending him back in. and you all called him such a sissy and such a bust and a terrible quarter back. Then during summer break he went to some local MD back in cali who found he actually had a torn labrum (Injured, not Hurt). How does Michigan, a medical school miss something as major as a Labrum injury to their star QB? The ball and socket of the shoulder? Tate was a warrior, but hes right, you people and the Michigan team treated him like crap. tate wasnt the problem, The problem lies withe Dysfunctional relationship he had with Michigan. You can only beat someone for so long before they decide to throw in the towel.

Josh

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.

he basically just pulled a lebron. is this the new standard? i hope not.

Terry Star21

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 6:56 p.m.

Tate was a very nice kid, but as it seemed did not want to continue the hard work of improving his quarterback skills - and more importantly his classroom requirements. His father flew in to help with the prospective of staying in school, and Tate did, very much desire to stay. His attitude damage as a teammate and in the classroom may have been too much too overcome - yet we may never know all the facts. Good luck Mr. Rodrigeuz and thank you for your desire and hard work. Thank you Mr. Brandon for your professional coach search (yes I know you never offered Harbaugh and Miles a contract/job despite what has been printed). Welcome Coach Brady Hoke, as with Mr. Brandon - anything you give us Michigan Faithful will be alright and we will support you all the way ! PS.....so exiting about Greg Mattison as well.........

a2citizen

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 6:39 p.m.

@SalineBob: Good comparison, but I think Marinovich had a better PR firm handling his issues...at least they sugar coated Marinovich's issues to help him become a first round pick.

SalineBob

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 6:02 p.m.

Reminds me of Todd Marinovich.

Mick52

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 5:53 p.m.

Not a surprise. He has talent and will play somewhere. I don't like the "quitter" aspect, but look at Ryan Mallet (not suggesting there is a talent match here) he did absolutely the right thing facing not playing much at all. Tate at Michigan would be a back up QB. Elsewhere he can start. Question: Was there ever an official report from UM that Forcier was academically ineligible? I saw releases that simply said "ineligible." Usually the academically part is in there. Just wondering if perhaps some other ineligibility aspect might apply. Or that the federal FERPA law keeps that description private too.

a2citizen

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 5:43 p.m.

As they say in France, "Le Roi est mort. Vive le Roi!" Translated, "The King is dead. Long live the King!"

Lady Audrey

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.

We all have to remember these players are young and still learning. While this may be a tremendous disappointment for Tate today, the lessons learned will make him a stronger man and when he lands his next quarterback position, he will have a new basis for making decisions. His parents should be proud of him. He certainly isn't the only kid at Michigan who failed academically!

quiet observer

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 4:29 p.m.

aareader, Thanks for the reference to Eric Adelson's article on Greg Harden and the major role he has played in Michigan's athletic programs. It was a great read. I have long been an admirer of Greg's and I'm confident that his contributions will play a major role in turning our football program around. Just another reason to be relieved that RichRod is gone.

Buster W.

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 4:29 p.m.

Hey Tater, do you need a ride to the airport?

ShadowManager

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 4:20 p.m.

Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya, DramaQueen Tate! good riddance!

Cindy Heflin

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.

A comment that made unverified allegations was removed.

Chase Ingersoll

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:43 p.m.

Good Grief. He's how old? By virtue of their unique excellence in a particular area, young athletes are generally sheltered or un-developed in other aspects of their lives. Yes, he is a public figure, but give him some time and space and he is as likely as any other kid of being a positive member of society. And what's the fuss about his grades? Didn't any of you read the latest study that students generally have no academic growth/improvement the first 2 years of college. <a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/01/18/study_finds_large_numbers_of_college_students_don_t_learn_much" rel='nofollow'>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/01/18/study_finds_large_numbers_of_college_students_don_t_learn_much</a>

missionbrazil

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.

Portage, if you look hard enough you will find cracks everywhere; no one is perfect. But why are you looking for the cracks so hard ? Don't worry, BH is still going to lead us back to being champions and we will beat &quot;your team in Ohio&quot;.

Tony Dearing

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.

A comment was removed because of a personal attack.

Howard the Duck

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:32 p.m.

What a fanbase! Some of you act like Tate killed your dog.

aareader

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:30 p.m.

It appears Greg Harden, Tom Brady's Guru was not around to mentor Tate. Apparently in Rich Rod his role to support Mich athletes was marginalized. He helped Desmond Howard, Jalen Rose etc. If he was more available maybe Tate would still be here. ** The following is a quote in an article about Greg Harden from &quot;Tom Brady's Guru&quot; by Eric Adelson &quot;Funny how athletic director Dave Brandon scoured the nation for a leader of men, when in fact the best example might be down the hall. Hoke would do well to introduce his recruits to a Michigan Man who gave up on Michigan. Those players will sit down with someone who will bludgeon their bravado without curtailing their confidence. Greg Harden won't go with the old Bo bromide: &quot;Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.&quot; But he will teach an even more powerful lesson that he took so long to learn himself: Those who are champions will stay&quot;

missionbrazil

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:29 p.m.

&quot;I had to reach rock bottom in order to see the light, and for that, I am thankful. It was not until then, I realized that it was my lack of accountability and maturity and not to pass blame. I do hope all my young fans forgive me and benefit from my lessons that I have learned. Be grateful for what you have and be humble for your successes. Don't wait to ask God into your life as he will help you see things clearer.&quot; Hopefully these statements by Tate show that he is going to learn from all of this and become a better young man because of what has happened. He now seems to take responsibility for his lack of accountability and maturity, and that is a good sign. You can't improve or fix something if you cannot admit that it needs fixing. Good luck to you Tate and God bless.

af3201sps

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.

Whether I loved or hated Tate does not matter. No human being deserves the nasty comments and attitudes that some of the comments here reflect. Tate Forcier is a young man and whether he was mature enough to handle the attention that was aimed at him by the media and public, he deserves respect that fellow human beings deserve. None of us have all the facts or details surrounding his departure from the UM. He did not lash out at the UM or fans in his tweets. He even states that he believes this will be a stepping stone of sorts in his life and an event that will help build his character. Best wishes Mr Forcier. May you develop the character and grow into the man that will not only make yourself and your family proud but the rest of us also. Although you may have made mistakes at Michigan, I have full confidence that you are headed in the right direction. Keep moving forward.

aareader

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.

&quot;.... I really wanted to stay. I was not giving up on Michigan, but in the end, it was made clear that they had given up on me. That being said, it was time for me to go.&quot; Tate ... Who gave up on who??? I believe it was you that gave up an Michigan and Blue could not wait around for you any more. Kind of like 3 strikes and your are ..... Hopefully, as noted in your tweets, you have learned some things and may become very successful in the future.

EyeonAA

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:11 p.m.

&quot;... I realized that it was my lack of accountability and maturity and not to pass blame.&quot; &quot;I was not giving up on Michigan, but in the end, it was made clear that they had given up on me. That being said, it was time for me to go.&quot; We'll all miss the soap opera that was Tate Forcier. By all accounts he must have put himself before the team. It must have been pretty bad for even RichRod (a coach on the hot seat) to call him out.

D21

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.

It certainly would be better if Tate was more specific in what he meant about UM giving up on him. Remember that does happen to other athletes, warranted or not, too. Nevertheless, it is good of Tate to say nothing else but praise for UM which is hard for most of us to do if we were in his shoes.

Edward R Murrow's Ghost

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:58 p.m.

This is quite sad, and I fail to understand the snarky comments here. The same people who thought a grown man earing $2.5 million/year and who completely screwed up this program deserved a second chance are throwing this young man under the bus. Bizarre. All football programs lose players, but RichRod seems to have lost more than his share. And, yes, this &quot;loss&quot; came on Hoke's watch, but this had been coming for months. What was it about RichRod that he could not keep players on his team? All of that said, good luck, Tate. Hopefully you'll find someone who can develop your talent and teach you some discipline. Clearly RichRod could do neither. Good Night and Good Luck

D21

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:56 p.m.

RudeJude, Good posting! Tate is doing the right thing by recognizing that UM has no need for him and to move on without showing any bitterness but praise for UM. God bless him. I, for one, would have liked to see how it turned out for him should he had stuck it out at UM as an athlete and a student. Thank you Tate.

PortageLkBlu

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:53 p.m.

Oooops! The question is, did coach Brady try and work with young Mr. Tate? Tate's problems were not unique, they were problems faced by coaches everyday and everyday coaches work with players to reach positive results especially when the QB in question could be a great asset to the whole 2011 season. If Brady is as great as some of you think imagine what he could have done with young Mr Tate? Bo used to work through problems like this quite frequently, such a shame, such a waste, is this the first crack?

tulsatom

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:51 p.m.

I would like to know what Tate meant by, &quot;I really wanted to stay. I was not giving up on Michigan, but in the end, it was made clear that they had given up on me. That being said, it was time for me to go&quot;. Did U-M force him to leave? No. Did U-M expect him to study in class? Yes. Is U-M going to coddle him and promise him the starting job? No. That is something that is earned. Tate is obviously a high-maintenance kid who is used to special treatment. When he doesn't get it he equates that with the university giving up on him when it is clearly the other way around. I wish Tate the best in the future and hope he has matured from his experience at U-M. In the end, he'll probably land somewhere where he is &quot;The Guy&quot; and receives the special attention that he craves and U-M will recruit a more dependable backup QB so it will be a win-win for everyone.

superbuck

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:46 p.m.

Heard Tate might go to Auburn and sit out a year.

DonAZ

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:45 p.m.

This is a bit of shame, actually ... he had the potential to be a pretty good QB at Michigan. And I think Hoke could have used Forcier's particular talents. Forcier is not as fast as Robinson, but he's nimble enough in the pocket to get that extra half-click of time. With some proper coaching of his decision making he could have been pretty good at the role. What intrigues me is what Hoke will do with Gardner. He's 6'4&quot; and has some heft on him. Can he grow enough to stand in the pocket until the last possible moment, then use his legs and dash? Time will tell.

stunhsif

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:38 p.m.

This will be devastating for M. Tate was a much better overall QB than Denard could ever hope to be. This brings to light the issue I have with college sports, primarily football and basketball and that is the graduation rate for these athlete/students is abysmal. Most of these athletes have no business attending Michigan with the GPA's they bring to the table. It is a joke in my opinion, we value the wrong things, period !

EyeHeartA2

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.

Twitter? For this? What toolish behavior. Seems like he really didn't learn anything from his recent problems. The whole website <a href="http://www.qbforce.com" rel='nofollow'>www.qbforce.com</a> makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth.

azwolverine

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:37 p.m.

Good luck, Tate. Thanks for the great games you had, hopefully everything will work out in the future.

DFSmith

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:36 p.m.

Best of luck to you , Tate.

a2roots

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.

So long Tate...don't let the door hit you in the rear. Poor work ethic in the classroom and on the practice field as well as fleeting moments of promise on the field does not make you a Michigan Man. Do not even try to say that UM gave up on you. You made your bed and now you sleep in it.

Urban Sombrero

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.

Couldn't keep the ol' GPA up, eh, Tate?

MjC

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:29 p.m.

May the true force be with you Tate. Wherever you go, whatever you do, I wish you the very best life has to offer. Ignore the negative comments here (a lot of people forget just how young our football players are). Believe that you have the brainpower and drive to become a good college student and a good football player (because you do!). Your true fans (and friends) want only the best for you.

Richard

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.

Tate, so youare a quitter? I am very sad to read that you have given up on yourself, your fans and your team. I believe in you, i believe you can do it. I believe that if you want it bad enough you will anything to get back on the team. Nothing is impossible, oh it may seem impossible at the moment, but if you are willing to do hard work and determination with a commitment to succeed, you can do it. Your friends and us who don't know you will do whatever we can to help you, whether it is studying with you, cheering you on, or praying with you if you are a religious person. Tate, i watched you when I came to a game and i saw the talent and the desire to be a great Michigan quarterback. Come on Tate, don't give up on yourself, I haven't given up on you. Go Blue, Go Tate!

81wolverine

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 1 p.m.

Playing QB at Michigan and balancing that with the academic load is very difficult. It takes someone who is mature, talented, and dedicated. In the end, Forcier had talent, but not the other two attributes. He may eventually &quot;get it&quot;, but not at Michigan. I wish him luck wherever he goes. But, this WILL put Michigan in a hole at QB unless we can &quot;snake oil&quot; someone away from another school this recruiting class. Going into this fall with only 2 recruited QB's makes me VERY nervous. I better lay off the coffee for now.

RudeJude

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 12:57 p.m.

It's sad how many commenters are so willing to taunt Tate. He had a great opportunity and he blew it. Isn't that bad enough? Is there really a need to rub salt into the wound? I assume these commenters all are Michigan fans and were cheering for Tate a year ago. There's definitely a &quot;what have you done for me lately?&quot; mentality around here. The guy didn't mug someone or get busted for drugs, he just couldn't handle his success. The football program basically disassociated itself from him publicly, which is embarrassing enough. His pride has been checked. He still loves Michigan. Wish him well and show some class.

cnorman

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 12:54 p.m.

i don't know what tate's transgressions were as a student or teammate. and it isn't my business to know. maybe he doesn't deserve the sympathy of the university community. i don't know, but the twitter comments from last night sure sound like calls for help. i really hope it is forthcoming. maybe it's time to become 'robert' again.

Sean T.

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 12:47 p.m.

good luck and Happy trails my friend.

amaizenblueballs

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 12:32 p.m.

Good luck Tate, hope you find what you are looking for and gain the guidance you need. This is sad. It is a good example of why the NCAA use to not let Freshman play. It was a good rule. I too was disappointed in Tate's behavior at time, but now in retrospect this taints Michigan some because of how he was thrown into a desparate situation as a Freshman. Some kids can handle it, others can not. But certainly he was one that listened to all the fans and media, good and bad. Denard on the other hand sounds like he properly ignores the fans and media. The coaching staff needs to evaluate kids on whether they are ready and not just physically. In that area too, Tate had a lot of injuries that may have been avoided with a year of training. Good luck again Tate turning things around.

tim

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 11:47 a.m.

Tate keep going your a great player . Without the spread (QBs getting hurt )Michigan may not feel the need for so many talented quarterbacks or maybe they're just playing mind games to motivate you.

breadman

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 11:31 a.m.

Tate you did the best you could. I do think you got messed over for the Gator bowl game. Two wrongs did not make one right when RR got too stay in Florida and you must leave, when you worked your butt off too get the team too a bowl game that we as Michigan Fans had not seen in three years. Best of luck in whatever you do. Hope too hear your name in a team that plays Michigan...... Keep your head high in whatever you do....

ypsidog

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 11:25 a.m.

Good, leave as soon as possible, and don't let the door hit you in the rear bumber!! Over rated anyway, not a team guy, Hoke doesn't have any room or need for a guy like this on his roster. Good luck at your new Div. 3 school. the dog

ChelseaBob

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 11:24 a.m.

If Tate is taking responsibility and working to catch up, there is no reason to leave. If he busts his butt in the classroom for remainder of the year, I'll bet the new coaching staff will welcome him back with open arms.

1st Down

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 11:07 a.m.

He is a talented QB and if he can get the academics together....should land at a DI program and get his degree.

maizenbluedoc

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 10:52 a.m.

I wish Tate the best. He may have had some problems in school, but at least he wasn't involved in any illegal or questionable practices as far as I know. He did what thousands of other young college students do and have done; used bad judgement. Tate can be a very good QB in the right situation, and I'm sure he will succeed. Thanks Tate for you effort and contribution to Michigan football. Unfortunately, you may have kept RR as coach about a year too long.

Ellen

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 8:44 a.m.

Awww, good luck to you, Tate! Sorry to see you go. I think you're awesome, and my young sons are huge fans.

Mick

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 8:11 a.m.

It makes me sad to see it didn't work out for him in AA. Hopefully he will work hard in the classroom and make something of himself. I've known the family for almost 20 yrs and I wish him the best future he can imagine , good luck Tate.

algrant

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 8:06 a.m.

See ya later. Call yourself a &quot;Michigan Man&quot; if it makes you feel better, but rotten attitude, a sub-par work ethic and the inability to maintain the *highly* relaxed academic standards expected of Michigan football players tell us otherwise. Don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya.

1st Down

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 7:53 a.m.

It wasnt quite like OJ's live run from the law with Al Cowlings at the wheel....but I happened to be on twitter and live for this &quot;event&quot; too... it was odd to say the least...but best of luck to Tate. My only gripe was that he indicated that Michigan no longer wanted him, however ultimately he made his own fate with the poor academics and he would still be on the roster had he done better in the classroom. Perhaps he has a learning disability or something, but he should have taken better advantage of resources to get the necessary 1.6 gpa to stay eligible. Best of luck to him. Go Blue.

Crustyc11

Thu, Jan 20, 2011 : 7:16 a.m.

What did you expect? Waffles in the morning? cCme on he's been gone for some time. Headed to Grand Valley... or Montana